HCPCS drug code · CMS crosswalk
Dexamethasone J-Code / HCPCS Code
In short
Dexamethasone is billed under HCPCS J8540 — Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg. One billing unit is 0.25 mg. CMS's crosswalk lists 48 Dexamethasone NDCs under this code.
Reference
- J8540
- Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mgBilling unit: 0.25 mg
- Labelers
- A-S Medication Solutions; ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; American Health Packaging; Apotex Corp; Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.; Major Pharmaceuticals; Northstar RxLLC; PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.and 2 more
Medicare Part B payment limit
CMS ASP filePayment limit per unit$0.022
Per0.25 mg
Coinsurance20%
Effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Payment allowance limits subject to the ASP methodology are based on 2Q26 ASP data. A payment limit is not a coverage decision; the Medicare contractor decides coverage. CMS ASP pricing files
Dexamethasone units and claim line
Enter the dose given to get the J8540 units and the NDC line for the CMS-1500 and the 837P.
Enter the dose given to build the claim line.
Dexamethasone NDCs and billing units
From CMS’s ASP NDC–HCPCS crosswalk, effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Billing units per package are CMS’s figures for the code’s unit.
| NDC (11-digit) | HCPCS | Labeler | Package | Billing units per package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00054-3177-63 | J8540 | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | 500 | 200 |
| 00054-4184-25 | J8540 | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | 100 | 1600 |
| 00054-8175-25 | J8540 | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | 100 | 1600 |
| 00054-8180-25 | J8540 | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | 100 | 300 |
| 00054-8181-25 | J8540 | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | 100 | 600 |
| 00904-7266-61 | J8540 | Major Pharmaceuticals | 100 | 1600 |
| 00904-7267-61 | J8540 | Major Pharmaceuticals | 100 | 2400 |
| 00904-7444-61 | J8540 | Major Pharmaceuticals | 100 | 800 |
| 43063-0266-07 | J8540 | PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 7 | 56 |
| 50090-0088-04 | J8540 | A-S Medication Solutions | 6 | 96 |
| 50090-0089-00 | J8540 | A-S Medication Solutions | 28 | 448 |
| 50090-6151-04 | J8540 | A-S Medication Solutions | 6 | 96 |
| 50090-6152-00 | J8540 | A-S Medication Solutions | 28 | 448 |
| 55289-0582-04 | J8540 | PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 4 | 64 |
| 55289-0582-06 | J8540 | PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 6 | 96 |
| 55289-0582-28 | J8540 | PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 28 | 448 |
| 55289-0903-12 | J8540 | PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 12 | 36 |
| 60505-6249-01 | J8540 | Apotex Corp | 100 | 200 |
| 60505-6250-01 | J8540 | Apotex Corp | 100 | 300 |
| 60505-6251-01 | J8540 | Apotex Corp | 100 | 400 |
| 60505-6252-01 | J8540 | Apotex Corp | 100 | 600 |
| 60505-6253-01 | J8540 | Apotex Corp | 100 | 800 |
| 60505-6254-01 | J8540 | Apotex Corp | 100 | 1600 |
| 60505-6255-01 | J8540 | Apotex Corp | 100 | 2400 |
| 60687-0718-01 | J8540 | American Health Packaging | 100 | 1600 |
| 60687-0729-01 | J8540 | American Health Packaging | 100 | 2400 |
| 60687-0773-01 | J8540 | American Health Packaging | 100 | 800 |
| 66993-0730-02 | J8540 | Prasco Laboratories | 100 | 1600 |
| 66993-0730-80 | J8540 | Prasco Laboratories | 100 | 1600 |
| 68788-4113-01 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 12 | 192 |
| 68788-7267-02 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 21 | 63 |
| 68788-7267-03 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 30 | 90 |
| 68788-8223-01 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 12 | 192 |
| 68788-8223-03 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 30 | 480 |
| 68788-8223-06 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 6 | 96 |
| 68788-8467-01 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 12 | 192 |
| 68788-8467-03 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 30 | 480 |
| 68788-8763-03 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 30 | 90 |
| 68788-8824-03 | J8540 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc | 30 | 480 |
| 70954-0398-10 | J8540 | ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 100 | 200 |
| 70954-0399-10 | J8540 | ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 100 | 300 |
| 72603-0187-01 | J8540 | Northstar RxLLC | 100 | 600 |
| 72603-0188-01 | J8540 | Northstar RxLLC | 100 | 800 |
| 72603-0189-01 | J8540 | Northstar RxLLC | 100 | 1600 |
| 72603-0190-01 | J8540 | Northstar RxLLC | 100 | 2400 |
| 72603-0212-01 | J8540 | Northstar RxLLC | 100 | 200 |
| 72603-0213-01 | J8540 | Northstar RxLLC | 100 | 300 |
| 72789-0501-20 | J8540 | PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 20 | 60 |
Dexamethasone: common questions
- What is the J-code for Dexamethasone?
- Dexamethasone is billed under HCPCS J8540 — Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg. One billing unit is 0.25 mg. CMS's crosswalk lists 48 Dexamethasone NDCs under this code.
- How many J8540 billing units are in a package of Dexamethasone?
- CMS lists 36 to 2,400 billing units per package, depending on the NDC, where one unit is 0.25 mg. Units to report are based on the dose given, not the package.
- Is J8540 a CPT code?
- No. J8540 is a HCPCS Level II code from CMS for the drug itself. Giving it, for example by injection or infusion, is usually reported with a separate CPT administration code.
Other codes for the same drug
- J1095Injection, dexamethasone 9 percent, intraocular, 1 microgram
- J1096Dexamethasone, lacrimal ophthalmic insert, 0.1 mg
- J1100Injection, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 1 mg
- J7312Injection, dexamethasone, intravitreal implant, 0.1 mg
- J7637Dexamethasone, inhalation solution, compounded product, administered through dme, concentrated form, per milligram
- J7638Dexamethasone, inhalation solution, compounded product, administered through dme, unit dose form, per milligram
- J8541Dexamethasone (hemady), oral, 0.25 mg